When your loved one is living in a nursing home, you expect them to get the care they need so they can have a high quality of life. However, if the nursing home doesn’t have properly trained nursing staff and enough people to provide care, then those living in the nursing home can suffer. If your loved one has been hurt or their health has declined because of the poor quality of care they’ve received, you may be able to take legal action. A Pine Bluff nursing home abuse lawyer from McMath Woods P.A. can help you stand up for your loved one.
Our law firm protects the rights of senior citizens. When elderly people are living in a nursing home, they may not be able to communicate that they’re not getting the care they need. In these instances, others need to advocate for them. Our attorneys are prepared to hold the negligent home accountable for their actions and get justice for your loved one.
How Does Nursing Home Abuse and Neglect Occur?
Nursing home abuse is when your loved one is purposely mistreated. Neglect typically occurs when the home isn’t able to provide them with the care they need. Both are preventable and should never have happened.
The different types of abuse that occur are as follows:
- Physical. Staff can handle your loved one too roughly. Hitting or shoving may also be occurring.
- Emotional. If staff speaks to your loved one with a demeaning tone, uses rude language, or also ignores your loved one, then this is emotional abuse.
- Sexual. Sexual abuse can occur from staff when they subject residents to inappropriate situations.
- Financial. Stealing from your loved one could occur. Other serious forms of financial abuse can also include getting control of your loved one’s finances or changes names on deeds.
Neglect often happens when there isn’t enough staff in the home to provide care. This often means that patients don’t get the personalized care they need or that they get enough time with nurses throughout the day. If they have an emergency or need assistance, they may have to wait for hours before a staff member can get to them. Forms of neglect include:
- Missed Meals. Your loved one may not be getting regular meals and snacks so they aren’t able to maintain health and strength.
- Missed Medication. Your loved one may need certain medications to treat health conditions and help them stay healthy. Missed doses can severely affect your loved one.
- Lack of Care. If there aren’t enough staff to get to each resident, your loved one may not have assistance with bathing, changing clothes, using the bathroom, and having fresh bedsheets.
When your Pine Bluff nursing home abuse lawyer is fighting for your loved one, we’ll look into how they were treated, who was taking care of them, and find out how they were harmed. Our lawyers will gather evidence of abuse or neglect.
What Red Flags May Signal Elder Abuse?
You may be able to recognize signs of abuse or neglect when you visit your loved one. It’s important to remember that your loved one may not tell you outright what’s happening. There are a few reasons for this. Your loved one may have a condition that makes it difficult for them to talk. If your loved one has a form of dementia, they may not be lucid most of the time so they may not realize what’s happening. There’s also the possibility that your loved one is aware of what’s going on, but is afraid of retaliation or they feel shame for what’s happening.
The following signs may indicate that something is wrong:
- Repetitive Injuries or Illness. If your loved one has injuries like bruises or cuts on a consistent basis, this could be from physical abuse. An injury that may show that they’re being neglected is developing bed sores, which occur when they’re left in a certain position for too long without adjustment. If your loved one is often sick, the nursing home may not have the cleanest environment or take preventative measures to stop germs from spreading.
- Change in Demeanor. Your loved one’s mood and demeanor may change. If they seem fearful, withdrawn, or not like themselves, this could be because of an ongoing issue.
- Weight Loss. If you notice that your loved one is losing weight quickly, this could be from not getting regular meals.
- Dirty Clothes/Foul Odor. You may notice that your loved one’s clothes or bedsheets haven’t been changed, or that they haven’t been bathed or had their teeth taken care of. If their personal hygiene isn’t being maintained, this could be signs of neglect.
Staff behavior can also indicate that the home isn’t providing the best level of care and safety:
- Not Letting You Visit Your Loved One Alone. Your loved one is allowed to decide who sees them. They’re also allowed to have visitors without supervision. If it seems like staff members are hovering and won’t leave you alone, they may be trying to intimidate your loved one or prevent them from communicating with you.
- Not Providing Clear Answers. If you ask staff a question or wish to address a concern, you expect to have clear answers and a way to find a solution. If they brush you off or provide vague answers they may be keeping details from you.
When you notice these red flags, you can take action to protect your loved one. Our nursing home abuse lawyers will do everything to protect your loved one’s rights.
Do You Suspect Your Loved One Was Abused?
Your loved one deserves to live with dignity in a safe environment. When this happens, it’s important to get your loved one to a safe place as quickly as possible. Then, you can contact a Pine Bluff nursing home abuse lawyer from McMath Woods P.A. for a free consultation.
We’ll review how your loved one was treated and how their health suffered because of the abuse or negligence. Our lawyers can build a case to help your loved one get full and fair compensation for what they’ve been through. We’ll advocate for their best interests so they can have the secure future they deserve.
